Second meeting scheduled for possible East Keating/Noyes Township merger
By Christopher Miller
EAST KEATING TOWNSHIP – The second and last meeting for the proposed merger between East Keating Township and Noyes Township is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, October 28 at Renovo Fire Department.
The first meeting, held July 23, brought together the supervisors for East Keating and Noyes Townships, dual-township Secretary Treasurer Tracy Shady, township solicitor Rocco Rosamilia, and Terri Cunkle of DCED to explain the finite details behind the merger and to field questions.
“The meaning for this meeting (July 23) is that East Keating is wanting to merge into Noyes Township, these two guys (George and Craig Stimpson) are the only two working in the township, and there are seven residents,” township secretary/treasurer Tracy Shady explained.
“With George ready to retire and Craig working a lot, they just don’t have the time to take care of the township, so as friendly neighbors Noyes decided to take over and merge them with us.”
“Both townships drafted an ordinance explaining what the merger would look like, then they put it on the ballot,” she explained. “The majority has to vote and be favorable in each municipality and if one municipality votes it down, the question of a merger cannot go back on the ballot for five years.”
The benefits of the merger weigh heavily for Noyes Township where they will gain seven new voters and 51 square miles of new land. As well, about 7.5 miles of road will be added for maintenance, additional liquid fuel money, capital funds, and tax monies. East Keating will also be coming into Noyes Township with approximately a $200,000 surplus.
The village of Keating will still exist, but East Keating Township will be no more.
The 2020 population of Noyes Township was 333 and the 2020 population of East Keating Township was seven. East Keating is the second smallest municipality in the state behind Centralia.
Both incorporated in 1875, East Keating Township will be only three weeks shy of its 150th birthday if the merger takes place on January 1, 2025.
The residents of both townships will see a ballot question on Tuesday, November 5 asking if the townships should merge.
